Oklahoma Man Allegedly Uses Flamethrower on Deputies During Eviction

A routine eviction in Oklahoma City turned dangerous when a man allegedly used a makeshift flamethrower on deputies. Body-camera footage from the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office reveals a tense standoff inside the cluttered apartment on August 11.

Deputies arrived at the apartment around noon to enforce an eviction order for Darron Dunn, 61. The Housing Authority staff unlocked the door, but found it partially blocked by cables and an electric wheelchair.

Once inside, a deputy saw Dunn sitting in a bedroom. According to the incident report, Dunn sprayed an aerosol can towards a deputy and a Housing Authority security officer, then allegedly ignited it. The bodycam video shows a bright flash as a burst of fire shoots towards the officer.

Authorities describe the flames reaching approximately 15 feet towards the deputy. As officers retreated, they noticed a car battery with wires connected near Dunn and another wired device by the door.

“He’s got it hooked up to the battery!” an officer shouted.

The device reportedly consisted of aerosol cans taped together, connected with bare wires. Deputies quickly evacuated nearby residents while the sheriff’s tactical team and bomb squad responded.

The bomb squad later disabled the hazardous setup and safely extracted Dunn from the apartment. A spokesperson for the sheriff’s office later confirmed that the device was unlikely to explode, though it could have sparked if the wires made contact with the car-battery terminal.

Dunn was taken to a VA hospital due to medical and stress-related issues before being hospitalized for mental health evaluation. Authorities charged him with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, using or threatening to use an incendiary device, and obstructing an officer.

The sheriff’s spokesperson noted that eviction enforcement can trigger volatile reactions, sometimes leading to violent incidents. Similar incidents have previously occurred, including one in which a man tried to set a deputy ablaze.